Brain Power: Grades 6-9

Weeding Out the Grass (Module 4)

You can also download this entire module in PDF format by clicking the following link: Module 4 (PDF, 640KB)

Summary

Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. Nearly half of all high school students have used marijuana. Many children and adolescents, and even adults, think of it as a harmless drug, especially when compared to heroin, cocaine, and even cigarettes.

But marijuana is hardly harmless. Today’s marijuana is 10 to 15 times stronger than it was in the 1960s. Recent research is showing that this drug has a strong physical impact on the brain and body. Because their brains are still developing, it is particularly important for young people to understand the effects of marijuana. This module is designed to teach students about the serious effects of marijuana.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module:

Students can explain the short- and long-term effects of marijuana use and the seriousness of these effects.

Students understand how THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, disrupts neurotransmission.

Students can explain how marijuana can adversely affect the hippocampus and other parts of the brain.